Showing posts with label Autism. Show all posts

What are the ways to teach an autistic child to speak?.. A child with verbal autism. Non-verbal children with autism spectrum

Teaching a child with autism to speak:

When teaching a child with autism spectrum language, we must distinguish between two models:

1- A child with verbal autism:

They are children who can pick up words, repeat them and use them in their own way, and usually some methods can be used to develop speech and language, but the autistic child usually lags behind children of the same age, each according to his condition, and these methods include:

A modern training method called (PRT) is now being used to support the autistic child in speaking and interaction:

It is a method that includes relying on the child's own motives to urge him to speak, using his interest in a specific object or game, so one of the parents takes it and uses its name to encourage the child to speak, and when the child repeats the name, he is rewarded by giving him this thing.

This method is led by children, because children with autism may be interested in things that may not mean anything to others. If you use what he likes and cares about, he will remain motivated throughout the training period, which may reach an hour per day, and improve his desire to communicate.

Early Intervention:

Early detection of the spectrum of autism and dealing with it accurately may be a reason for obtaining better results in teaching the child to speak and urging him to interact with others.

Consultation of specialists:

Where they have the experience and ability to guide parents in the case of children with autism and deal with them, given that they follow many cases, and inform them of the most important studies in the field of dealing with the autism spectrum and its types.

2- Non-verbal children with autism spectrum:

Children in this case do not speak, and it is a condition that cannot be treated, and these cases need to consult specialists, to improve the quality of life of children and their ways of communicating with others, and they need to develop communication skills other than speech, usually using several technological and methodological methods under the supervision of specialists or parents after receive appropriate training.

Signs of autism in children and infants:

Those signs that you will read in the following lines can be called the initial signs of the disease, which may appear on the infant and take their way to clarity as they age, to become after the age of two years visible to everyone, and the disease is often diagnosed at the age of three years, and signs of autism in children The infants are as follows:

He does not produce the usual babble sounds in that age period, or is delayed in comparison to an infant of his age.
The infant with autism, when carried, finds that the body stiffens and takes one straight line, because he is unable to move his body.
Most likely, an infant with autism will not smile at you or others.
Whenever you call him by his name or talk to him, he does not pay attention to you, as if he is deaf and does not hear you.
He doesn't want anyone to take care of him, and he doesn't even respond to a hug.
He loses visual contact, so he doesn't follow or pay attention to things that move with his eyes.
He does not wave you with both hands to carry him, nor does he offer the desire to carry him upwards.
He does not want to play or communicate with anyone.
One of the strongest signs indicating that a child has autism is his sensitivity to casein and gluten, so he always has problems in the digestive system, which are flatulence, constipation, gas, and cramps.
The autistic person does not try to ask for his basic requirements and does not ask anyone for help, and repeats the same movements, and sometimes follows a specific pattern that does not change it, and suffers from a defect in regulatory functions such as sleep, eating, or attention.

autism spectrum:

Autism spectrum disorder affects a child's development and his ability to communicate and integrate into society. Dr. Rania Khamakhm, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, confirmed that the symptoms of the disease are different and varied. It is present since the birth of the child, but it is not clear or incomprehensible to the parents.

Symptoms of autism spectrum:

In general, the symptoms of the autism spectrum are limited to three main points: social integration, verbal and non-verbal communication, and behavior.

For the merger bidder:

Many preconceived ideas known to people, which are mostly wrong, such as the idea that a child with autism spectrum always faces difficulties in integrating. each child individually.

For example, we can find children integrating with the rest of the children and interacting with them, and the element of interaction may be absent, but if we look more closely at the behavior of the child with autism spectrum, we find that the child during play focuses on only one detail of the game or plays it in his own way without being guided by laws In the game, we can also find passive children who do not initiate anything or draw our attention in anything, and even if we interact with them, they do not respond to us, and even if they do respond, their response will have problems. In all the questions, the doctor confirmed that the point of social integration in the axis continues Diagnosis in the autism spectrum.

With regard to the second symptom related to communication, it is divided into verbal and non-verbal communication:

For verbal communication:

The absence of some things is a clear indication of the existence of special forms of the autism spectrum, for example if the child did not begin to speak in the first year of his life, or did not speak at all at the age of two years, if he did not begin to form simple, clear and meaningful sentences at the age of three. At this point, the doctor noted that the delay or absence of speech represents the most reason for parents to visit the doctor and examine the child.

Among the other problems that the child is exposed to in verbal communication, we can find the child speaking, but he does not employ the words correctly, and we also find him repeating the words satisfactorily, and he cannot link the answer to the question asked and does not wait for his turn in the answer because he does not understand the meaning of the dialogue. And give and take in speech, and we also notice that the child does not use the ego pronoun when he talks about himself, and we find that he also speaks languages other than the language in which he deals with him.

As for non-verbal communication:

The child does not turn around when we call him by his name, because in the normal situation, the child in the first year of his life turns when we call him by his name, in addition to that his looks are distracted and he cannot look or look long into the eyes of another person, and we find him staring at the ceiling or at the lights for a long time. In pointing to things or asking for them, instead of that, he stands in front of him and starts screaming or crying, or takes us to him without asking for the thing itself.

For the third model of behavior:

It will appear in repetitive movements, such as the child spinning around himself, blinking his eyes, jumping in one place, or going back and forth in the same direction without a specific goal. It may also appear on the child with autism in the behavior section, strange interests and behaviors, such as licking or smelling anything. Something given to him, or he used to open and close the door over and over again, or as if he stacked things or played, or as if he ate according to the colors and type of food, or he stared at his fingers or walked on the tips of the fingers, or he was disturbed by mechanical sounds or attracted to a certain repetitive sound in a game or TV

An important point is added to all these symptoms, which is anxiety, tension and discomfort if we change something that he is used to, such as changing the path leading to the house or changing the furniture of the house. The child with autism spectrum prefers to wear the same clothes and hold the same toy in his hand as possible To become violent with himself and with others, and cannot dispense with diapers, in addition to sleep problems.

Causes of autism spectrum:

As for the reasons that contribute to the emergence of autism spectrum disease, Dr. Rania Khamakhm, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, indicated that there is no direct cause for this disease and that it is linked to genetic and hereditary factors.

Screens, whether television, computers, mobile phones, or others, do not directly cause autism, but rather accelerate the emergence of the disease and highlight its symptoms. The doctor explained that the screens are a talking box, but it does not interact with us, and therefore the quantity and quality of words becomes few and confined to a specific dictionary. He cannot form useful phrases or sentences and interact with them, so parents are advised to keep children away from screens before the age of three and not to leave them alone in front of them.

We can also find autism spectrum disease as a single disease in itself or accompanied by physical diseases such as epilepsy, Down syndrome, and hearing or vision loss. These diseases can also be alone without the autism spectrum, and if they are treated early, they may disappear.

Autism spectrum treatment:

Emphasis should be placed on the importance of early diagnosis, and she called on parents not to underestimate any symptoms, and to follow up periodically on the child in the various stages of his treatment, because that in itself enables them to accept the disease and coexist with it, and not rush to seek recovery and give each stage of treatment its right, and the doctor said that this It serves as a psychological framework for parents and enables them to accept the disease and help their children effectively

There are signs, if any, that give hope to the child to overcome many obstacles and other health problems, which are represented first in the fact that the child spoke before the age of five, and second that his illness is not accompanied by other diseases, and third, that his mental level is normal or above normal.

In general, autism spectrum disorder includes many specialties according to the problems that the child suffers from, such as occupational therapy and speech therapy.

As for the use of medicines, they depend on the condition and behavior of the child, and they are not given in all cases. Finally, I reassured the parents that these medicines were subjected to many tests and do not contain side effects. On the contrary, they help the children to improve and progress in the various exercises that they do. Child..

Eating disorders:

Eating disorders are relatively common in children with autism. It is important to take care of it in time to avoid possible nutritional deficiencies and complications.

Eating disorders are an everyday reality for children with autism. It can have a variety of causes, although it is usually secondary to the changes characteristic of this disorder. Indeed, they occur one way or another, with varying degrees of intensity.

It should be remembered that autism spectrum disorders are a group of disorders of the central nervous system that affect brain function. Usually appearing during childhood, neurological functioning problems translate into difficulties in the areas of social interaction and communication skills.

Factors associated with eating disorders in children with autism:

The food industry is one of those affected in autism. Its origin is related to the following points:

Perceptual changes, which result in hypersensitivity or hypersensitivity to certain textures, tastes, odors, or food colors.
Limited and restricted interests.
repetitive behaviours.
Difficulty fully integrating sensory perceptions.
Major eating disorders in children with autism.
Feeding children with autism can be complex.

Therefore, the effect on diet can manifest itself in several ways. What are the main eating disorders in children with this disease?

Little variety in the diet:

Because of the limited choice of foods and the intense aversions that some can arouse, the diets of children with autism may have little variety. Rejection can be for specific foods, for a whole group, foods of a certain color or texture, etc. They also tend to prefer one type of preparation or presentation. In general, and by no means the norm for all children, they tend to prefer red, yellow or orange foods, while the textures most rejected are grainy, sticky and astringent.

Insufficient quantities:

Children with autism find it difficult to focus on one task for long periods of time, which can make it difficult for them to sit at the table from starter to dessert. If we add to this what we have seen, their diet may be insufficient in terms of energy and nutrients. Moreover, in some cases, it can be difficult to define the roles of authority and accept the restrictions imposed. Thus, it is the children themselves who fully control their diet, so they choose what to eat and what not to eat and in what quantities.

Food aversion caused by classical negative conditioning:

Classical conditioning is the presence of a stimulus response that emerges as the product of an experience. As a result, it is common to have an aversion or rejection of certain foods if the child's subsequent experience after trying them for the first time is negative. Negative experiences can be such as abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. Discomfort resulting from anger or struggling to eat.

Medication issues:

Some of the medications used to treat autism spectrum disorders affect children's feeding. They cause a decrease or increase in appetite and can prevent the absorption of certain vitamins or minerals. This is why it is important to know the side effects of treatment. And discuss it with specialists in the treatment of children.

Frequent gastrointestinal disorders:

Children with autism often have certain symptoms related to their digestive system and diet. These include the following, abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea or constipation, reflux, flatulence, vomiting.

Restricting the consumption of certain fruits and vegetables can lead to a diet that is too low in fiber, which ultimately leads to causing constipation issues. Likewise, difficulty chewing and insufficient chewing can lead to indigestion and gas.

Is it necessary to intervene in food problems?

In the face of any eating disorder in children with autism, it is imperative to act as quickly as possible. Although it may not be considered a priority, deficiencies during childhood can lead to cases of malnutrition or nutritional deficiencies. Such a situation will be an additional problem for the correct development and growth of children. A meta-analysis of scientific studies found that the diet of children with autism was lower in protein and calcium than children without autism.

Therefore, it is important to pay attention to any problem related to nutrition in order to find an appropriate solution in each case. In addition, specialists emphasize the need for a diet tailored to each child (their preferences and desires) as well as to control their nutritional status. It will be possible to avoid digestive problems and prevent possible future problems associated with a poor diet.

Eating disorders in children with autism require special attention:

Managing eating disorders that occur in children with autism is essential to avoid complications during their growth and development process. Thus, any abnormality in eating behavior is a reason to consult pediatricians, nutritionists and other specialists.

growth disorders:

Autism (or autistic disorder) is the most common developmental disorder, and children with autism typically have problems in three vital areas of development: social interactions, language, communication, and behaviour. The severity of the symptoms varies widely among children. A child with severe autism shows a complete inability to communicate or interact with others.

Signs of autism:

Some children show signs of autism at an early age. Others develop normally for the first few months or years, and then suddenly turn on themselves, become aggressive or lose the language they have acquired.

Symptoms of autism:

Although every child has unique behavior, the most common symptoms in children are:

In terms of social skills:

Difficulty making eye contact or understanding facial expressions.
Difficulty decoding emotional expressions (knowing if someone is sad) and difficulty interpreting other people's intentions.
Difficulty expressing his feelings.
No response when called by name.
Preferring to play alone, withdrawing into his own world.
Inability to make friends of the same age.
Inability to play avatar games.

In terms of language and communication:

The child begins to speak after two years of age.
Other developmental delays appear around 30 months.
The child does not look at his interlocutor when he is talking to someone.
Inability to start or maintain a conversation.
The child speaks in an unnatural rhythm or tone (singing or "mechanical" voice).
The child can repeat the words, but does not understand their meaning.

In terms of behaviour:

The tendency to perform repetitive motions (called stereotypes) such as rocking, clapping, or spinning.
Excessive reliance on certain procedures or rituals.
A fascination with certain parts of something, for example a spinning wheel on a toy.
The child is constantly moving.
Hypersensitivity or sensitivity to light, sound, touch, or certain textures, or insensitivity to pain. This peculiarity may be explained by a disorder in the processing of sensory information.
The child does not seek to share his interests with others.
Outbursts of anger and aggressive gestures directed at oneself (self-aggression) and/or directed at others (hetero-aggression).

It is best to see a specialist as soon as possible if your child, does not babble or tweet by 12 months of age, does not make gestures to communicate such as pointing to an object or a picture, and has not said a single word by 16 months of age, nor a two-word sentence by 24 months.

Achieving physical and psychological balance for the child:

Psychomotor science is a quasi-medical specialty that relies on the integration of sensory and physical motor functions, and its aim is to achieve physical and psychological balance, by doing a number of exercises and classes for people who suffer from an imbalance in this balance.

This treatment is resorted to when there is a defect in the sensory, mental and physical functions, and the psychomotor therapist performs this task to achieve balance.

What is autism?

Autistic disorder is a type of autism spectrum disorder
Signs of autism can appear from the first months of a child's life, but a diagnosis can only be made at the age of 3 years.
The types of autism differ, as do the symptoms
And starting from the age of 6 months, signs of autism can be detected in children, because the normal child begins the process of social communication with parents. As for the child who suffers from autism, he lacks this response, and parents can discover the condition early.
The questions of the specialist in psychomotor therapy are usually about the child's first attempts to laugh and cry, the reasons for that, and whether the child follows his parents through looks and the process of the child's communication through his body.
The diagnosis is easy when it is made before the age of 3 years
It cannot be certain that the signs of delay in walking or speaking are signs of autism, as they may be related to other pathological conditions.
And the child's direct doctor can discover autism.

the reasons:

The scientific reasons are still unknown, and there are some hypotheses that the reasons are genetic or the mother's use of antibiotics during pregnancy...

Diagnosis:

When the diagnosis is early, the treatment is easier, and when it is suspected that the child may have an autistic disorder, a neurologist, child psychiatrist, or his doctor should be contacted, as any of these parties can enable him to go to the specialized team, which mainly consists of a specialist in psychomotor therapy. He specializes in occupational therapy and specializes in speech correction.

This team carries out a rehabilitation program that enables the child to receive treatment early and improve his quality of life so that he can live comfortably.

treatment:

Possible treatments for autism are psychomotor therapy, speech correction, and occupational therapy to facilitate the process of social communication and coexistence with others, especially since the child with autism suffers from problems of integration with others.
The task of the psychomotor therapist is to rely on exercises on the body and seek to build a relationship of trust with the child and to rely on body language to communicate and respond to his personal tendencies and excessive feelings.
Data must be taken from the parents about the child in order to communicate with him, and also through the environment in which he lives, and they are parties capable of helping him to integrate.
There are attempts to improve the condition of the child, and the state of improvement is not linked to a specific period, and it must be aware that autism disorders cannot be completely cured from the child, as it is a disorder that accompanies him throughout his life, but the family and social environment surrounding him must cooperate to improve his condition.

Signs of autism according to the age of the child:

After reaching six months, the infant should be affected by tickling, expressing joy and happiness, and smiling, but the autistic child is not affected by all these actions, and does not show a reaction in return.
After entering the age of nine months, he does not respond to the call, does not interact with sounds, does not communicate with his eyes, so his visual interaction is weak, and does not imitate your movements that you repeat in front of him.
After completing the first year, he is late in speaking, and even babbling with names and letters he does not do, and he does not respond to calling his name, and he does not wave his hands or hug you.
When he reaches the age of one and a half, he still does not speak words, and he does not try to make sounds to get your attention.
The autistic child, who is two years old, does not try to discover new toys and clings to playing in one place, and also clings to specific toys and dolls and does not want to play with others.

Causes of autism:

Environmental pollution from the air or a viral infection may be among the motivating causes for the disease to appear on the infected child.
The presence of a group of genes, some of which make the child more susceptible to the disorder, while others affect the functions of the brain and the extent of its development, and this is often the result of a genetic defect, and here the genes are primarily responsible for this pathological condition.
There are some studies that attribute this infection to vaccination with the triple vaccine given against mumps, measles, and rubella.
One reason may be some vaccines that contain thimerosal, because they contain a preservative with a small amount of mercury.
Some of the recent research conducted indicates other causes, including the occurrence of problems during labour, or during the delivery process.
These researches also suggested that the cause of autism is due to a defect in the immune system.